Putt sensitive ring

ABSTRACT

Practice putting system using an upright-putting Sensitive Ring. Sensitive Ring design allows the system to indicate a strongly delivered putt with a rocking motion of the Sensitive Ring and its flag. Sensitive Ring receiving a hard hit putt will stand vertically and lay its flag on the floor surface. Sensitive Ring entrance allows for a smooth putt entry with no threshold or surface to putt over. Design of rear Sensitive Ring wall contains additional ring wall material providing additional weight high on the rear ring wall, this feature along with the flag, flag stick and flag stick top knob raise the rings center of gravity making the ring sensitive to the power used to deliver a putt. Sensitive Ring design provides a low tech solution that will allow a practicing golfer to develop a stroke with a sensitive delivery. Sensitive Rings are developed in groups of nine to provide a putting course opportunity for practice or as a game for all skill levels.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to practicing putting or using putting as a game format, where multiple putting rings provide an opportunity for unlimited layouts using a putting ring that is sensitive to power applied to each putt. This system allows for a low technical response for a putt that is over hit. Putt Sensitive Ring uses a ring design with weight distributed to the rear wall and open to the floor entry into the ring. Weight at the rear along with a flag, a flag pole and a flag pole top knob help to raise the center of gravity of the ring improves the ring sensitivity. The ring height allows an entering golf ball to strike the ring wall above the mid-line adding to the sensitivity of the ring. Four-piece design simplifies operation and manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is designed to meet the above requirements and provides the ability to introduce people of all ages and physical condition to the sport of golf. Here the sport of golf is represented by the refined stroke of putting that can be brought indoors and made available to a larger population. With the ability to control layout and terrain practice and play can provide a challenge and support a real practice routine. For a better understanding of the structure of the invention and its function, further explanation is given below with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring, highlighting separate flagpole assembly, and hole identification flag.

FIG. 2 is an additional view of putt sensitive ring, highlighting a three-dimensional ring image separate flagpole assembly and hole identification flag.

FIG. 3 profile view of putt sensitive ring in upright position, highlighting extended ring wall distributing weight to rear of ring, reduced ring base, and raised front entry zone to facilitate tip-back.

FIG. 4 plan view of putt sensitive ring, highlighting controlled entry, rear ring wall thickness, ring side way reduction and center point flag placement.

FIG. 5 dimensional side view of putt sensitive ring, highlighting controlled entry, rear ring wall thickness, ring side wall reduction and center point flag placement

FIG. 6 view of putt sensitive ring simple design, highlighting tapering ring walls without the extended weight added to the rear ring wall, separate flagpole assembly, and hole identification flag.

FIG. 7 views of putt sensitive ring, illustrating placement of surface level controlled ring entry, and proportion of entry to ring wall surround.

FIG. 8 view of basic flag format, with its relationship to upper flag pole and pin cap safety cap for flag pole, highlighting elasticized flag sleeve to hold flag in place.

FIG. 9 close-up view of elasticized flag sleeve to hold flag in place while on flagpole.

FIG. 10 view of numbered flag layout on a flag body with elasticized sleeve attachment.

FIG. 11 view of basic flag format, with its relationship to upper flag pole and pin cap safety cap for flag pole, highlighting hole punched flag attachment to hold flag in place.

FIG. 12 view of numbered flag layout on a flag body with hole punched flag attachment.

FIG. 13 view of hole identification flags, with reversible front nine and back nine numbering, flag body with elasticized sleeve attachment.

FIG. 14 view of disassembled flag pole assembly, highlighting pin cap a safety cap for the flag pole end, aids tip-back by raising center of gravity.

FIG. 15 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring, highlighting separate flagpole assembly, and hole identification flag, illustrating ring tip-back feature when ring receives a strongly delivered putt.

FIG. 16 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring receiving a strongly delivered putt.

FIG. 17 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring, highlighting separate flagpole assembly, and hole identification flag, illustrating ring drop-back feature when ring receives a over hit putt.

FIG. 18 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring receiving a over hit putt.

FIG. 19 is a view of a basic storage box with complete practice putt sensitive ring program, highlighting nine putt sensitive rings systems and score card placement.

FIG. 20 is a see-thru profile view of our putt sensitive ring, highlighting separate flagpole assembly, and hole identification flag, illustrating basic feature dimensions

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, (1) our Putt sensitive ring is a horizontal C shape providing a natural capture shape to receive a well placed putt. Ring walls are one and three-sixteenths inches high FIG. 20 in order that its centerline is below that of a conventional golf ball. This elevated C shape design will allow for adequate holding area for a well placed putt. FIG. 4. C shape design provides a controlled entry requiring accurate approach FIG. 5 (2) Level ring entry allows for a sensitive stroke FIG. 6 (2). Ring contour where ring wall thickness reduces from upper ring wall to ring base FIG. 3 (1) helps support tip-back feature. Reduced front zone weight FIG. 3 (3) to facilitate tip-back. Rear ring wall can provide additional weight for ring sensitivity control FIG. 3 (4). Abbreviated ring base footprint adds to ring sensitivity. FIG. 3 (1). The key to ring sensitivity is weight distribution, our ring raises its center of gravity by redistributing weight. FIG. 5 (4). Flag Assembly provides ring identification FIG. 10 (13) as well as supporting sensitivity by adding weight to the top of the flagpole FIG. 8 where it provides the best opportunity for raising the systems center of gravity supporting ring sensitivity. Flag pole placement FIG. 1 (5) FIG. 4 (5) in the rear ring wall on a center axis with the ring entry and at an angle of 92° FIG. 20 supports ring sensitivity Flags are reversible front nine and back nine numbering FIG. 13. Flag material can be cloth fabric with embroidered or screen-printed numbers FIG. 10, cloth material flags can use a elasticized sleeve to hold flag in place on flag pole FIG. 9. Flag material can also be of a flexible plastic FIG. 12 where holes punched through the surface FIG. 12 (12) become holding slots for the flag pole FIG. 1 (12). Flag poles can be made of wood, plastic or resins FIG. 14 (6) they support the tip back feature and their safety cap the pin cap FIG. 14 (9) also adds weight to the top end of our flag pole. Our putt sensitive ring system consists of our C shaped ring FIG. 5, flag pole FIG. 14 (6) pin safety cap FIG. 14 (9), and hole identification numbered flag FIG. 13. These elements are combined to support a tip-back feature FIG. 15 that makes the putt sensitive ring responsive to the power that delivers a putt FIG. 16. When a golf ball passes through the ring entry FIG. 4 (2) and strikes the rear ring wall FIG. 4 (7) the ring can respond with a tip-back in FIG. 15 for a strongly hit putt, or the ring can respond with a drop-back feature FIG. 17 for a putt that is over hit FIG. 18. The ring can be constructed in a number of different materials FIG. 3. A casting resin would provide the ability to reproduce the weight distribution FIG. 4 (4) in the ring wall consistently and efficiently, and would provide unlimited finish opportunities for product presentation FIG. 19. Our putt sensitive ring system is meant to be offered in a format of Nine putt sensitive rings FIG. 3, FIG. 19 (1) nine flag pole assemblies FIG. 14, FIG. 19 (6) and nine hole identification flags FIG. 10 or FIG. 12, FIG. 19 (8) that are reversible front and back nine FIG. 13, FIG. 19 (8), in a presentation and storage box FIG. 19 (11) with eighteen hole score cards FIG. 19 (10), for the purpose of practicing putting or using as a game format to play eighteen holes as family entertainment. 

1. Putting ring provides integrated floor level entry FIG. 6 (2) to allow a golf ball to enter the ring without needing additional force to cross an entrance threshold of elevated entrance ramp.
 2. Ring design allows the rear wall to be extended FIG. 3 (4) to provide added weight above the center line and provide a pole position in the center of the back wall to receive the flag pole assembly FIG. 5 (5) and numbered flag FIG. 12 of FIG. 13, allowing for the tip back feature FIG. 15 that provides the ring sensitivity to a hard or over struck FIG. 17 putt.
 3. Flag and flagpole assembly will raise the center of gravity point of the putting ring making it more sensitive to putting stroke. Flag shape FIG. 8 or FIG. 11 helps provide weight at top of pole. Flag pole FIG. 14 topped with pole knob (9) also adds weight to the top of the system.
 4. Putting rings in groups of nine can play like eighteen holes FIG. 19 with the use of nine double sided flags FIG. 13 providing for a game atmosphere creating interests and extending practice time. To support the game play, score cards for eighteen holes of play would be part of the program.
 5. Four piece system FIG. 20 all work together, to allow flag pole assembly FIG. 14, to be fitted with a putting ring numbered flag FIG. 8 or FIG. 11 that is double sided FIG.
 13. Top view of putting ring FIG. 4 (5), provides the proper placement of flag pole FIG. 14 (6), in rear ring wall FIG. 5 (5) at an angle of ninety two degrees FIG. 1 (5). Putting ring can be extended FIG. 3 (4) for added ring weight at the rear ring wall above the ring center line all of these elements of design come together to provide a sensitive putting system, that can react to an over hit putt FIG.
 17. 